ALB PIERREPOINT ( UK THE LAST HANGMAN) 1 of 10

[FieldMarshalRommel23]

I'd be hugely in favour of public hangins for sex offenders and aggrivated murderers etc. Firing squad for the more honourable offenders!

[Kelly14UK]

@FieldMarshalRommel23 What about circumstantial evidence that places YOU as the only suspect? Trust me it happens. Thank God for Scotland's Not Proven verdict.

[kiwipreacher]

As much as I oppose to the death penalty, I have to concede the Bristish were far more professional in how they carried it out than the Americans will ever be.

[knutgordon]

@kiwipreacher

We have to note that a number of British hangings up to the 1950's were also botched (although not at the hands of Pierrepoint) but it was kept secret until people started writing memoirs decades later. British executions (unlike Americans) was lonely informal affairs not allowed to be witnessed by the press or public. If the Nuremberg hangings were conducted by the British it would have been in total secrecy like the Bergen Belsen hangings.

[kiwipreacher]

@knutgordon - Hanging is an art more than a science, so that will have happened. The point I was trying to make was that the British system - at least in the 20th Century - was to get it over with as quickly as possible. Pierrepoint would enter the cell when the clock started striking eight and have the prisoner at the end of the rope before it finished.

[knutgordon]

@kiwipreacher

Yes, In 20th century Britain, the whole process was over very quickly and every effort was made to minimize the criminal's mental and physical suffering. Pierrepoint was an interesting man. Determined to following in his father's and uncle's part time work tradition which he carried out with a dispassionate professionalism, efficiency and pride.

[kiwipreacher]

@knutgordon - His autobiography 'Pierrepoint: Executioner' is well worth reading. Amongst other things, it shows the film took liberties on more than one occasion.

[knutgordon]

@kiwipreacher

I think the movie borrowed heavily from Syd Dernley book The Hangman's Tale. A well made movie, but don't follow his autobiography very closely and is somewhat factually inaccurate. The main thrust of the film - that he resigned because of having to hang a friend is nonsense and his emotional distress and anti death penalty stance at the end is questionable. Still, the movie do show how different the Brit way of hanging was from the the Hollywood acts.

[MrCky123]

Albert Pierrepoint was not the last hangman but was he was the most prolific. The last executions were carried out simultaneously by Jock Stewart and Harry Allen at Liverpool Walton and Manchester Strangeways in August1964.

[richrichrichism]

epic, i fking love the death penalty as a story line. A replusive act by the state in reality, but for that reason so fking fascinating.

[FILMMAKERCHAP]

loving the ITV theme at the begining ha ha ha

[videomonkey2009]

@FILMMAKERCHAP ITV theme lol I just been experimenting with diff intros. hope you enjoyed the show

[noonsight2010]

A remarkable co-incidence occured in 1947 when Pierrepoint was walking down Charlotte Street in Covent Garden, London. As he passed a jewellers on the opposite side of the street, armed robbers emerged and the heroic Mr de Antiquis pulled up his motorcycle in order to apprehend them He was shot dead. It shocked the nation. Even "career" criminals had a "code" of conduct and assisted police. Pierrepoint duly came to hang the culprits.

ex- New Scotland Yard Crime (nee Black) Museum staff.

[noonsight2010]

express777100 is correct.

ex New Scotland yard Crime (nee Black) Museum staff.

[johnjock1948]

thank you for your response.i'm merely referring to my opinion of what i read in his book.you may well be right,but perhaps if you read it [i'm not sure which one-so long ago],you might form a different opinion.i do,however,stand to be corrected regards.

[videomonkey2009]

@johnjock1948 All opinions and comments apreciated. Thanks for comment anyway hope you enjoy the show

[johnjock1948]

was'nt he hired by the irish govt. to hang irish people?i read his book in which he professed a hatred for his job.yet,this short book indicates-to me-his love/enjoyment of it!

[videomonkey2009]

@johnjock1948 I dont think he got a kick out of it because he tried to keep it quiet, but if he didnt do it then someones else sure would have.

[express777100]

les stewart was also the last equal no1 along with harry allen, although allen carried out the majority of sentences. they both carried out the last executions in england on 13 august 1964, when peter anthony allen was hanged by stewart whilst gwyn owen evans alias john robson walby was hanged by allen.

[mywheelchairone69]

Albert wasn't the last British executioner,it was Harry Allen,officiating between 1941 and 1964.

[sockington1]

@mywheelchairone69 ....along with R.L Stewart

[mywheelchairone69]

@sockington1 Thank you.........I didn't know that.

[sockington1]

@mywheelchairone69 yes - Harry Allen hanged Gwynne Evans in Strangeways, and Robert L. Stewart hanged Peter Allen at Walton Jail, Liverpool at the same time on August 13th, 1964

[steponitbill]

LWT music.....nice :)

[Dessan01]

Always nice to see top'em Pierrepoint on the strings!!

[loveroftruth7]

He was so sweet

[fitte6]

@loveroftruth7

I think professional is a better suited word. As a British sayings goes: When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite,

[Zed1967]

@fitte6

As a human being (and I use the word ''human being'' very loosely in your case) you should be utterly ashamed by your comment to treat political murder so casually by trying to inject humour. SHAME ON YOU! :(